A14_JELA_325250_335621_Industry_Day_RFI_Attachment_1.pdf

Date: July 30, 2025

To: General Public (Via the Government’s Point Entry)

From: John Babcock, Contracting O icer, National Park Service, Denver Service Center

Subject: Request For Information – 140P2025R0110

Reference: JELA 325250 / 335621 Rehabilitate Chalmette National Cemetery – Chalmette, Louisiana

This is a Request For Information (RFI) for the purpose of conducting market research. Proposals are NOT being requested, nor accepted at this time. Responses are being requested from both large and small businesses.

1. Purpose The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather input from interested businesses and industry stakeholders regarding an exciting opportunity to rehabilitate Chalmette National Cemetery, located in St. Bernard Parish just outside of New Orleans.

This project will focus on repairing and preserving the cemetery’s historic landscape. Planned work includes cleaning, straightening, and realigning grave markers, as well as replacing damaged or missing ones. Additional scope includes minor conservation of monuments, rehabilitation of gates and iron fencing, critical brick wall repairs, grading and stormwater improvements, restoration of historic plantings, and enhancements to visitor access and experience (including seating, interpretive elements, walkways, and parking).

The goal of this RFI is to gauge industry interest in participating in a Virtual Industry Day and an in-person site visit, where prospective contractors will have the opportunity to view the site and provide feedback to inform requirement development. The National Park Service (NPS) will use responses from this RFI to help shape the final scope of work and acquisition strategy.

2. Background Chalmette National Cemetery was established in May 1864 to serve as the final resting place for Union soldiers who died in Louisiana during the Civil War. The cemetery sits on the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, adjacent to Chalmette Battlefield. Today, more than 15,000 headstones mark the graves of veterans from the War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War.

The 17.5-acre cemetery stretches from the Mississippi River Levee on the south to West Saint Bernard Highway on the north. It is bounded by Chalmette Battlefield to the west and an industrial manufacturing facility to the east. Military Cemetery Road runs through the cemetery, from the northern entrance to the levee at the southern end.

Currently, approximately 25% of the cemetery’s grave markers are missing, damaged, or illegible. All markers are overdue for cleaning, and a comprehensive raise-and-realign e ort is needed. Additionally, trenches have formed along several grave marker rows.

Critical repairs are also required for the historic brick enclosure wall that runs along the south, east, and west sides of the cemetery. The north side is enclosed by an iron fence, which also requires rehabilitation. The turf is thin in areas prone to flooding or dense shade.

Tree canopy within the cemetery has declined by roughly 50%. Plantings around the superintendent’s lodge are missing, and the entrance lacks the historic arrival experience it once had. Historic features such as the Grand Army of the Republic monument, cannon tubes, and the iron gate and fencing on the north side are in need of conservation.

The stormwater management system is currently non-functional, resulting in frequent flooding.

Contributing factors include inadequate grading and a poorly managed connection to a nearby pond on an adjacent property.

3. Meeting Dates and Times (All times shown below at Central Time): We plan to conduct two Industry Day Presentations.

1. Virtual Industry Day via MS Team: On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 9am Central Time: A virtual informational meeting will be held to review the site and project scope. Meeting link via MS Team will be sent to respondents prior to the meeting.

2. In Person Site Visit: On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 8am Central Time:

Contractor will meet on site at the parking lot located at 8606 W Saint Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA 70043. Contractor meetings will be 60-90 minutes. Depending on the number of contractor respondents, another session at 2pm may be scheduled. Agenda with time and meeting location will be sent out to each firm attending. Attendance of contractor personnel will be limited to 5 people per Company.

3. Follow up meeting via MS Team with individual contractors: Meetings to collect input from the individual contractors will be scheduled after the site visit. Anticipate meeting to occur within 7 days of the site visit.

4. Security Requirements:

No later than August 25, 2025, all prime contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and other vendors who plan to attend the construction industry day will need to provide their full name, company name and email address which is required for attendance. Participants will not be admitted to the event without prior approval.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

PPE will not be required (or provided). This visit will involve walking on turf and the road. Stable, close toed shoes or boots are recommended.

6. Additional Information: No proposal package, solicitation, specification or drawings are available with this RFI notice.

7. Cost Reimbursement: Response to this announcement is strictly voluntary; no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with traveling to the site and providing information in response to this Request For Information notice or any follow-up information requests.

8. Submit Names For Virtual Industry Day / In Person Site Visit: If interested in the Virtual Industry Meeting (8/27/2025) and/or In Person Site Visits (9/3/2025), please indicate your interest or both and provide full name, email address, phone number and company name to John Babcock, email at john_babcock@nps.gov and Carlos Garcia, email at carlos_garcia@nps.gov, no later than 12 Noon Central Time on 8/25/2025.

9. Submit RFI Response: After the In Person Site Visit, please submit your RFI response to John Babcock, email at john_babcock@nps.gov, and Carlos Garcia, email at carlos_garcia@nps.gov, no later than 12 Noon Central Time by 9/9/2025. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled upon receipt of the RFI response.